Shedeur Sanders’ surprising fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft left many fans and analysts puzzled.
But if anyone understands the power of being overlooked, it’s Tom Brady – and he’s not letting Sanders dwell on the disappointment.
Brady, famously drafted 199th overall in 2000 before going on to win seven Super Bowls, addressed Sanders’ situation during a recent appearance on The Art of Dialogue podcast.
Shockingly, the NFL legend stated that he wasn’t involved in the Colorado quarterback’s evaluation, despite speculation linking him to the decision-making process in Las Vegas.
“It’s a good question. I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process or to see that,” Brady said when asked why Sanders fell so far in the draft.
Needless to say, many fans and analysts don’t believe Brady’s claim, especially after it was revealed earlier this offseason that he was expected to have a significant voice in football decisions in Vegas.
When the podcast host mentioned that Skip Bayless was one of the doubters of Brady’s claim, the seven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t mince words.
“I know, well, everyone’s got every – you know…that’s the problem with media is everyone can just say whatever the f*ck they want,” he said.
Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, and there have been reports – though unconfirmed – that he’s taken a key role in the team’s football operations.
That connection sparked rumors that he influenced the team’s decision to pass on Sanders, whom Brady has known since high school and mentored over the years thanks to his relationship with Deion Sanders.
But the Raiders opted for a different direction. Las Vegas traded for Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith this offseason and extended him for two more years at $88 million.
Despite Smith’s age (34), the team didn’t select a quarterback in the draft, instead using the sixth overall pick to grab star running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Raiders passed on Sanders with multiple selections and currently have Aidan O’Connell slated as the backup QB.
Sanders ultimately landed with the Cleveland Browns at No. 144 overall – a steep drop from earlier projections that had him as a potential top-10 pick.
Now, he’ll enter training camp competing for a roster spot in what’s become one of the NFL’s most crowded quarterback rooms.
Cleveland already has Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookie Dillon Gabriel – drafted two rounds ahead of Sanders. (Not to mention the injured Deshaun Watson.)
Despite the uphill battle, Brady is urging Sanders to view this moment as a starting point, not a setback.
The former Patriots and Buccaneers star revealed during the podcast that he reached out directly after the draft.
“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, whatever happens, wherever you go, that’s your first day. Day two matters more than the draft,” Brady said.
“I was [pick number] 199. Yeah. So, who could speak on it better than me, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.’”
While the circumstances surrounding Brady and Sanders differ – few expected Brady to be selected high in 2000, whereas Sanders was a consensus early pick – both quarterbacks now share the experience of being doubted.
The question now is can Shedeur Sanders follow a similar path and prove that draft position doesn’t define an NFL career?
Of course, only time will tell how things shake out for Sanders …. But as far as Brady, do you believe his claim that he had nothing to do with the Raiders’ evaluation process???
